Maiden survives N-C rally to earn victory

March 16, 2011

Maiden catcher Caroline Ward, right, saves her team a run by tagging out Newton-Conoverâ€™s Cierra Jones during Mondayâ€™s CVAC softball game. The Blue Devils survived a late surge by the Red Devils to win the conference contest.

The Blue Devils' win came despite a monster six RBI game from N-C shortstop Breanna Jones. She was 3-for-4 on the day, including a double.

Maiden got off to a great start in the game by scoring six runs in the first two innings. Christian Childers drove in Lauren Sizemore on a single for the first run of the game.

Lindsay Schronce scored on an error on N-C third basemen Sarah Van Horn to make it 2-0 after the first inning.

In the second inning, the Blue Devils tacked on four more runs to their lead. The first two runs came when Jessica Cooper scored on an error by pitcher Catherine Jones, and Caroline Ward singled to score Erin Mayo.

The biggest hit of the inning came from the bat of senior first basemen Tai-Lynn Lail, who doubled to score Ward and Schronce.Â

Breanna Jones got the Red Devils on the board for the first time in the fourth, as she singled and plated Van Horn.Â

Another three runs were scored by the Blue Devils in the bottom of the fourth. Schronce tripled and scored Ward, who walked.
Lail and Schronce scored on an RBI double by Molly Sigmon, which made it a 9-1 game.

Maidenâ€™s Christian Childers pitched a strong game until the fifth inning when she gave up five N-C runs in the inning.

Breanna Jones led the charge with a triple that scored two runs. Van Horn also had a two-RBI double in the inning. That cut the lead down to 9-6.

Chelsea Cullars attempted to lead the dramatic comeback to tie or win the game.Â

She belted a ball to deep right field over the outfielderâ€™s head. That plated two runs, and it was suddenly a one-run game with a runner on third base.

Maiden relief pitcher Hannah Callahan was clutch in the tense moment. She struck out the final Red Devil batter to end the game and seal the Blue Devilsâ€™ victory.Â

Lail finished the game 3-for-3 with a double, and Schronce was 1-for-3.
Childers pitched 4.2 innings, eight hits, two strikeouts and no walks. Callahan pitched 2.1 innings of relief with six strikeouts, two hits and one walk.